No Sales Since Switching to Business Account

[zanediamonte]

I wonder if anyone can help me to understand why my Ebay sales have dropped suddenly to zero.

I was on a private account, but my sales dropped to very little immediately the Buyer Protection Fee kicked in on February the 4th. So, two or three weeks ago, I switched to a business account, assuming that this would address the problem. (It was about time anyway, as what started out as me flogging off my old books and records had evolved into me buying to sell.) However, since switching to a business account... zilch! No sales at all.

I'm flummoxed as to what has happened or what I can do about it.

As I said, this wasn't a gradual drop-off in sales over a period of months, it was all great up to February 3rd, terrible after February 4th, and absolutely dead to the nth degree after switching to a business account.

I'm quite desperate to sort this as the profit I was making (about £125.00 per week) consituted a substantial part of my income. I'm in my late 60s, on half a state pension, not in the greatest of health, and worried sick about what I'm going to do if this state of affairs continues. Also, I really liked sourcing and selling books. It was like a hobby that helped me pay my rent, and now it seems to have vanished into dust.

I'd be extremely grateful for any advice that anyone could offer.

[padanpcparts]

So, short answer here is that changing to a business account makes absolutely no difference to visibility or sales on the platform. As you were buying to sell for profit, by law you need to be registered as a business anyway so good to see you doing that and welcome to the business pages. 

Books and records are very competitive areas. Had a very quick look, the first thing to suggest is using a plain white background for your photographs. This is something to do with Google search picking them up correctly. Guessing they are all using AI to do this now.  There are many ways of promoting your listings on E-bay, they all involve giving E-bay more money. Best of luck.

[evamarievinyls]

I'm in the same boat at OP.  Sales have dropped significantly as though I'm invisible.  Annoying because there is a seller that has taken some of my listings exactly the same even photos I have taken at my desk and selling these more expensive than me with postage.  I'm not selling any and they are selling lots.  How does that actually work?  Something is not right.

[the-bee-keeper]

I have a private account on ebay and my listings end up on affiliate marketing websites and I have no control over visibility or sales! Only one potential buyer will be interested its B/S

Potential buyers range from managing directors in Germany to people with £1 million pound properties!

So much for putting items up for the general public!

[therenewalworkshopltd]

How on earth do you work that one out?

If your listing are being marketed elsewhere, that's a good thing.

It doesn't really matter if those affiliates are not showing it to the correct people or not.

It is in addition to the visibility on Ebay and google search etc.

But to get potential buyers with that kind of narrow focus, it must be one hell of a specific product!

And just for the record, even though someone may have a 1 mill pound property, does not necessarily mean that they are cash rich.  Plenty of older people with valuable properties, but still struggling along.